a sad figure is cut

a sad figure is cut
on the sidewalk
by an unjewish man
with a jewish name

his own shadow stares up at him
watching his shoulders slump
as his words of denial and bitterness
wash off into the gutter
and are drowned
carried away in swift currents
heard by only my ears
as they lap against my nike sneakers
on their way down

I step out of the torrent
devoid of words
his shadow has left
he ran away
during the heat of bitterness

I want to run too
but my escape would cause
the unjewish man's figure
to cut deeper into the sidewalk
spilling his crimson
and would hence be
my guilt
my regret
all my days more

so i stand
polo sweater in hand
under a streetlight
in the dead of night
moths congregating
around my head
whispering
leave
stay
love
fly away
reject
embrace

and he as well still stands
cutting a sad figure
into the sidewalk
looking at me
with a flame of hope

expecting

waiting